“I like Hello Kitty,” Matilda said.
Cornelius cleared his throat. “I feel partially responsible for this situation.”
Matilda reached over and petted his arm. “It’s okay, Daddy.”
Everything stopped as all of us collectively struggled with an overload of cute.
“Thank you,” Cornelius told her. “But I’m responsible. I knew what was to come, or at least I suspected, yet I minimized that risk in our initial conversation.”
I sighed. “You didn’t minimize anything. I was aware of the risk when I took the job. The responsibility for everything that happened is on me.”
“Your outrage over Rogan’s actions is well warranted,” Cornelius said, obviously choosing his words carefully. “But the danger of your family being harmed or put under pressure is very real. He isn’t wrong.”
I dropped my napkin on the table. “I know he isn’t wrong in his assessment, Cornelius. I’m upset because he refuses to acknowledge that I’m also right.”
“If he’d come to you with all of it, you would never have agreed to the purchase,” Bernard said.
“Probably not, but at least I would’ve had a choice.”
“What choice?” he said.
“I don’t know.” I got up and went to rinse my plate.
“Are we going to school today?” Leon asked.
“No,” my mother said.
“Great.” Leon smiled. “Then I’m going to go outside and see if I can get a gun. Since my own family won’t let me have one, I’ll have to beg strangers.”
“What’s wrong with you?” Catalina asked.
“Do you think guns are just lying around outside?” Arabella asked. “Or did someone plant a gun tree in our parking lot?”
“Have any of you looked outside?” Leon asked. “Since the sunrise, I mean.”
Bern poked his phone. “He’s right. I think we should look outside.”
I got up and marched down the hallway, through the office, and to the front door, my entire family behind me. I pushed the door open.
An armored transport rolled past us, carefully staying on the other side of a white line someone had painted on the pavement around our property. Across the street, a team of military-looking people installed an M198 Howitzer. A mobile howitzer that resembled a tank roared down the street in the opposite direction. To the right, an observation tower was going up, put together by another military-looking crew. Two severely groomed people in tactical gear double-timed it past us. The one on the left was leading what looked like an abnormally large grizzly on a ridiculously thin leather leash. The grizzly wore a leather harness marked “Sergeant Teddy.”
My mother’s mouth hung open.
Grandma Frida elbowed my mom in the ribs. “Pinch me, Penelope. It’s Fort Sill.”
I opened my mouth but nothing came out.
A trim woman about my age approached the white line and stopped. Her straight dark hair was pulled back into a ponytail. Her skin was a rich medium brown with an olive tint, her eyes were dark, and her features pointed at both African and possibly Latino heritage. She wore a beige pantsuit.
“Melosa Cordero with a message from Mad Rogan,” she said. “Permission to enter?”
This was ridiculous. “Sure.”
She stepped over the white line.
“The major regrets that his presence makes you uncomfortable; however, he wants me to inform you that Baranovsky’s shindig is tomorrow, so he respectfully suggests that you go shopping. I’m to accompany you. I’m authorized to make purchases on his behalf.”
“That won’t be necessary.” Rogan wouldn’t be paying for anything else of mine if I could help it. “You’re free to go. I’ll buy my own dress, Ms. Cordero.”
“Please call me Mel. He said you would say that. I’m to tell you that—” She cleared her throat and said in a deeper voice, obviously quoting, “This is strictly business. Don’t throw a tantrum, Nevada. It’s not like you.”
A tantrum, huh? I made a heroic effort to keep my mouth shut. I was reasonably sure that if I opened it, I’d breathe fire and melt her face off.
“He said that if you got this look on your face, I’m to tell you that I’m an aegis,” Melosa said. “I’m ranked as Significant and I’m a trained bodyguard. My mission is to shield you and Cornelius. I’m also to remind you that the safety of your client is your first priority.”
I pulled out my phone and texted Rogan.
Thank you so much for providing us with an aegis. So kind of you.
My pleasure. Is there anything else I can do for you?
As a matter of fact there is. Make a fist and hit yourself with it.
Is this the part where I tell you some ridiculously condescending line about how attractive you are when you’re angry?
Do you actually have a death wish?
Are you going to do something about it?
Argh.
“Cornelius?” I asked. “Your agreement with Rogan is terminated once we discover the identity of your wife’s killer?”
“Yes,” he said.
“Good.” Because once that contract was over, I would make Rogan eat every single word of this message. I had no idea how I would do it, but it would happen.
“If I may,” Melosa said. “We have a saying in this business. Don’t look a gifted aegis in the mouth.”
“What was your last assignment?” my mother asked.
“I was guarding the Argentinian finance minister,” Melosa said. “I was pulled from that detail last night, but I’m in operative condition. Equzol is a hell of a drug.”
“I feel like I missed something. We’re going to Baranovsky’s art gala?” Cornelius asked, his face puzzled.
That’s right. He’d slept through it. I told him that my personal “relationship” with Rogan wouldn’t interfere with this investigation. I would keep my word, no matter what it cost me.
“Come inside,” I told Melosa. “There are pancakes and sausage. Feel free to have some while I bring Cornelius up to speed.”
Briefing Cornelius took a lot longer than I’d anticipated and by the time I was done, my throat was in serious pain. He took it well. He and Melosa watched the video of the overpass incident, and then Cornelius declared he would be coming with us from now on.
Which was how all three of us ended up going to see Ferika Luga together. Cornelius said that his sister frequently shopped there for formal attire, and since I had no idea where to buy a suitable dress, I decided to trust his judgment. I also dipped into my emergency budget. I wouldn’t be wearing a dress Rogan bought me.
Since my Mazda was gone I abandoned all pretense of blending into the traffic and took one of the captured ATVs instead. ATVs weren’t made for comfort or for city traffic. We stood out like a sore thumb, and by the end of the trip, I’d need a butt replacement. The day had started on a high note so far. I couldn’t wait to see how wonderful things would get from now on.
As we drove out of the neighborhood, we passed a crew installing an electric fence along Clay Road.
“Did Rogan move his headquarters somewhere around here?” I asked.
“Yes,” Melosa answered. “It’s not cost effective to protect two different headquarters.”
“Where is it located?”
“I’m not at liberty to say.”
I finally understood why he was called Mad Rogan. It wasn’t because he was insane. It was because he drove you nuts with sheer frustration.
We had to make a detour into an older neighborhood, where Cornelius disappeared down a narrow street with another mysterious sack.
“What’s in the bag?” Melosa asked.
“He won’t tell me. For some reason I thought it might be body parts, and now I can’t get rid of that thought.”