“Got that right,” Stryker muttered. The rest of Hacker International nodded their agreement with their leader’s assessment of their lack of B&E skills.
“I don’t want to send in our Field teams, in no small part because they aren’t able to avoid the Al Dejahl Mind Control Trick and apparently all of us are. And if we get caught, we need someone who can talk their way out of things and think on their feet.”
“I know where this is going,” Jeff said, “and you’re right, I officially don’t like it.”
Ignored him and forged on. “So that means we need to have a team of experienced operatives. The only people who can be so covered up no one could tell if they were the real people or impersonators are the women. So, we’re going in with the hackers.”
“The funeral can be made to be very long,” White said. “So that should give you time, but even so, it might not be enough time. The facility is quite large.”
“And there are those hidden levels we couldn’t find,” Amy added. “Where you just know they’re hiding all the evil stuff.”
“And our data, I’m sure. And God knows what else, but I’m willing to bet that it’s the new drug that Vander’s worried about. So we’ll be helping our new friend at the F.B.I., too.”
“You’re okay with this plan?” Jeff asked White.
Who shrugged. “We have limited options, Jeffrey, and we do need to find out what’s going on over there. Besides, Kathy’s right as always.”
“Thanks, Rick honey.”
“I hate it when you two do that,” Jeff muttered.
“Who are you planning to take with you?” Chuckie asked.
“Lorraine and Claudia.” Who high-fived each other. I loved my girls. “And Serene, complete with your bomb arsenal.”
She bounced up to high-five Lorraine and Claudia. “I’ve been playing around with more miniaturization in my spare time. You’ll love what I’ve got for us!”
“I’m sure, as long as you’re not throwing the bombs at me.”
“I’m on the team too,” Adriana said. Who then got high-fives from both Lorraine and Claudia and a hug from Serene. We were all fired up about being the All Girl Power team. I’d have to play Good Charlotte’s “Riot Girl” when we rolled.
“And me,” Buchanan added. So much for All Girl Power. However, on the good side, Jeff and Chuckie both noticeably relaxed. “No one would expect me to be at the funeral, and most of your enemies still seem unaware that I exist, which is how we want it. You two,” he pointed to Len and Kyle, “obviously ‘guarding’ whoever’s pretending to be Missus Chief will mean that most observers buy the ruse.”
“Children are not allowed at funerals,” White said. “A new rule that I’m sure our current Pontifex will be glad to enforce.”
“Good one, Mister White. Meaning that we won’t need to worry about any of the kids blowing their moms’ covers. And Kevin, that means Denise stays in the Embassy, hopefully where it’s safe.”
“Who else is on your team?” Chuckie asked.
“Me,” Amy said indignantly.
“Nope. Ames, you need to be at the funeral. You’re the only one who will have enough pull with the Gaultier bigwigs to keep them at the event. Especially since we think one of them is the current Apprentice, we need to keep them where all of you can see them. And Caroline will need you, because there’s no way she’s going to be a part of the guerrilla team.”
“Why not?” Caroline asked as she, Naomi, and Abigail all joined us.
“What are you guys doing here?”
“Whatever they gave me brought my powers back,” Naomi said. “Just a little, but I could feel all of you over here. I realized we were needed.” She looked right at me. “Blaming the wrong people for Michael’s death doesn’t bring him back. But making the people who killed him pay in ways they don’t want to will at least avenge him.”
“So Sis and I are in,” Abigail added.
“Okay.” This earned a lot of angry looks from the menfolk. “Look, dudes, it’s all great that you want to tell me that we delicate little flowers need to stay close to home and safe. Only no one was safe at their home yesterday. And we can use the A-C powers, even if they’re just the standard ones.”
“And no one would believe we wouldn’t be at our brother’s funeral,” Abigail said. “Meaning that we’re great choices to go undercover.”
“So I’m going, too,” Caroline said. She was still wearing both her engagement ring and the Unity Necklace Michael had given her. My heart hurt looking at them.
“No,” I said as gently as I could. “You need to be at the funeral. Both because of who Michael was to you, and because you need to be seen.”
“No one would believe that Kitty wouldn’t be there with you,” Chuckie said slowly. “In that sense, you become the perfect cover.”
Caroline took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “You’re right, Chuck. And Kitty, I know you’re right, too. I won’t have any trouble being dramatic if you’ll need me to.”
“Probably will. You and Amy are going to have to work on how you’ll signal each other.” Swallowed hard. “I’m sorry I won’t be there, Caro.”
She managed a sad little smile. “I wish none of us had to be.” Her expression hardened. “But we do, so, let’s make sure that it’s worth it and get these bastards where they live.”
CHAPTER 58
GOT UP AND GAVE Caroline a big hug. “That’s my girl. And I’m still sorry . . . for everything, up to and including the fact that I won’t be there with you.”
She hugged me back. “It’s okay. None of this was your fault. You’re going to be doing what needs to be done. Just . . .” She hugged me tighter. “Don’t let them get one of my best friends right after they’ve taken my fiancé, okay?”
Swallowed the latest lump in my throat. “I’ll do my best, I promise.”
Naomi grabbed me next. “I’m so sorry,” she said quietly as we hugged each other.
“It’s okay. Really.”
We separated and I sat back down next to Jeff and my purse, while Caroline and the Gower Girls settled in next to Chuckie in our ever-widening Campfire Circle.
“What about me?” Doreen asked once everyone other than Buchanan, Len, and Kyle were once again on their butts.
“You, I’m of two minds about. You’ve proven you can handle the fieldwork along with the rest of us. But you’re also one of the only Embassy A-Cs who can believably lie. And you know everyone, and that means you’ll know people Amy and Caro don’t.”
She nodded. “I’d like to go with your team, but I think you’re right, I’ll probably be of more use at the funeral itself.”
“Okay,” Jeff said with a sigh. “I give up. You’re all going in, fine. But explain how you’re planning to use our friends the protestors to ensure that the various corporate heads we want at the funeral actually will attend.”
“If I may?” Oliver asked.
“Go for it, MJO.”
“While freedom of speech is our country’s watchword, the majority of people in this country don’t agree with the so-called religious who are busy protesting that Michael deserved to die because he was an alien and his older brother is openly gay. They’re a small, hideous, quite vocal group, but the operative word is ‘small.’ Most corporations—and certainly huge ones like Gaultier, Titan, and YatesCorp—aren’t going to give in to these people’s demands. It does their businesses more good to oppose them.”
“That’s true,” Amy said. “And, as Len said earlier, Gaultier prides itself on being a very open company. At least in its PR.”
“Reality’s always different than the marketing hype, Ames. I think it’s to our advantage that the Religious Asshats Du Jour are creating a love connection with Club Fifty-One. Sure there are plenty of people out there who may agree with the Club Fifty-One nuts, but a lot of them will not want to be associated with the Religious Asshats. And vice versa.”